Agenda Item: / CEP 7
Presented by: / France
Original: / French
Proposed registration of the Landing Rock on the list of historical sites and monuments
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Attachments: I to VIIIb
WP / 19Summary:
Resolution 4 of ATCM 2001 invited the Consultative Parties to revise the list of Antarctic Historical Sites and Monuments (HSM) in order to submit an updated document to CEP VI.
During the preparation ofits contribution, Francenoted that in the lists submitted previously (in Wellingtonin 1972 andin Brusselsin 1985), no mention had been made of the rock upon which the French Dumont d’Urville Expedition landed and from which they took possession of Terre Adélie (January 21,1840). This rock is aptly called the Landing Rock.
Francewishes to take advantage of the revision of the HSM list to correct this omission.
TERRE-ADELIE
Proposed addition of the Landing Rock on the list of historical sites and monuments
I – Proposal background
Three sites were suggested by Franceon the occasion of the ATCM (XIII – 16) Brussels 1985, i.e.:
Port-Martin [46 (66°49’S / 141°23’E)]
Base Marret [47 (66°41’S / 141°01’E)]
Croix Prudhomme [48 (66°41’S / 141°01’E]
A fourth one,
Cairn and plaque [27 (65°10’S / 64°09’W)]
To the Megalestris Hills, PetermannIsland, Antarctic Peninsula, was jointly presented by Argentina, Franceand the United-Kingdomduring the ATCM (VII-9) in Wellington 1972.
Resolution 4 (2001) on the Historical Sites and Monuments (HSM) invited the Consultative Parties to revise the list of HSM inside the Treaty zone. Finally, during XXVI ATCM, theUnited-Kingdom (DT-WP04) concluded it was necessary to update the list of SMH and volunteered to present this document at CEP VI.
During the preparation of documents required for the requested update of above-named sites, we noted a major “omission”: the Landing Rock upon which landed officers and crew members of Dumont d’Urville’s ships.
II – History: reminder of events
A – Reminder: 1st part of the expedition
Having left ToulononSeptember 7, 1837the ships AstrolabeandZéléecommanded by Dumont d’Urville and Jacquinot, respectively, had already done a first crossing during the year 1838. After passing the Clarence andElephantIslandsin the Southern Shetlands[1], they started in January 1838 on theWeddell Sea, vainly attempting to reach the southern latitude this navigator had claimed as the southernmost part of his attempt. A second attempt having failed because of excessive pack ice, Dumont d’Urville set towards the western coast of the Graham Land and discovered Joinville Island (which was in fact comprised of two islands[2]) and found a coast already described by Palmer and Bransfield which he named Louis-Philippe Land,and which in fact was the east coast of the Trinity Peninsula. On March 6, 1838, the expedition found itself at DeceptionIsland and in May in Valparaiso.
B- Discovery of Terre Adelie
Having set sail again for Antarctica following his voyage to Oceania[3], Dumont d’Urville this time came from the East. On January 20, 1840[4] he discovered a land mass which he named after his wife, Adèle. On January 21, close to the Dumoulin[5]Islands, each corvette lowered a launch[6]. The men, unable to disembark on the coast itself, set foot on an islet –“on the westernmost highest west side of the islet[7] ” - somefive or six hundred meters awayby 66°29’S and 138°21’ E[8], “jumping ashore armed with picks and hammers”. A tricolor flag was unfurled“on these lands seen by no human eyes and trodden by no human foot before us. Following the ancient custom, as carefully observed by the English, we took possession of it in the name of France, as well as the nearby coast where ice prevented us from landing”. And further:“The ceremony ended as it was bound to, with a libation. To the glory ofFrance, foremost on our minds, we drank a bottle of one of its best wines, which one of our companions had had the foresight to bring along. Never had a Bordeauxwine served a higher role; never was a bottle emptied with such great purpose[9]”.
Yet we needed to return with proof of our landing. Rock samples soon filled the bottom of our canoe[10].
These rocks were then analyzed[11].
III – Registration of the landing rock on the list of historical sites[…]
A- Eligibility
The site offered for registration meets upfront a number of registration conditions stipulated in 1995 ATCM Resolution 8, namely:
1 –Occurrence of anevent of particular importance for the history of Antarctic science or exploration,
2 – Existence of a specific link with someone who played an important part in the history of Antarctic science or exploration,
4 – A representative fact of all or part of a major activity thatenriched in-depth knowledge of Antarctica,
7 – A symbolic or commemorative value for the populations of many countries.
B- Geographical and geological reality of the landing spot.
While the recounting of Dumont d’Urville’s voyagesleft some uncertainties as to the exact position where the men came ashore, several authors, scientists and field workers were able to provide some further details, namely:
1)That “the map drawn “under sail”by Vincendon-Dumoulin (…) and the officers of both corvettes is remarkably accurate”given the means of the time[12].
2)That “most points named by Dumont d’Urville could be identified (…). During a sojourn in the Pointe Géologie Archipelago in September 1951, we found the Landing Rock in the exact configuration and position[13]described by Dubouzet”[14] (Annex III).
3)That the analysis of the geological samples brought back by Dumont d’Urville allowsone to“declare that the landing took place on one of the islands found before Pointe Géologie. This fully confirms the E.P.F.’s interpretation [15]”, i.e. Perroud’s[16].
4)That finally there is great similarity between the Rock as it appears on the print of the time (Annex VIIIb) and a photograph taken in 1961 (Annex VII).
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Bibliography:
Central Intelligence Agency, Polar Regions Atlas, (sl), May 1978.
DA COSTA, J.-F.,L’Antarctique et le Droit international, Centre de Documentation universitaire, Paris 1948 (also indexed in the Expéditions Polaires Françaises series, Expédition antarctique, série documentaire n°4, Paris 1948.
DA COSTA, J.-F.,Souveraineté sur l’Antarctique, Expéditions Polaires Françaises, Librairie générale de Droit et de Jurisprudence, n° 201, Paris 1958.
DUMONT d'URVILLE, J.-S., Voyage au Pôle sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes l'Astrolabe et la Zélée exécuté par ordre du roi pendant les années 1837 - 1838 - 1839 - 1840 sous le commandement de M. J. Dumont d'Urville, Capitaine de vaisseau, Paris, Gide et Cie Editeurs, 1845
HEADLAND, R.K.; Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions and related historical events, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1989.
HEADLAND, R.K.; The Island of South Georgia, Cambridge University Press, 1984 (consulted edition, 1992).
HEURTEBIZE, G, Comptes-rendus de l’Académie des Sciences, t. 234, 1380, 1952.
HEURTEBIZE, G, Sur les formations géologiques de la Terre Adélie, Comptes-rendus de l’Académie des Sciences, t.234, 2200-2201, 26/05/1952.
HOBBS, William H., Centenary celebration of the Wilkes exploring expedition, The Scientific Monthly, vol. I, April 1840 : 372-377.
PERROUD, Paul, Terre Adélie 1951-1952 – Astronomie, Géodésie, Cartographie, Expéditions Polaires Françaises, Résultats scientifiques, S. III.1, Paris 1955.
VICTOR, P.-E., Pilote de Terre Adélie, EPF, Paris 1987. [Revised bilingual version ofPiloteby the same author published by EPF under n° 232, sd.].
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List of Illustrated Annexes
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I Map of the Astrolabe and theZélée (Dumont d'Urville 1840)
II Excerpt from IGN 1/1000 000 map of Terre Adelie
IIIDumoulinIslands by Dubouzet
IVMap of Dumont d'Urville routes
Va DumoulinIslands and the Landing Rockin theTerre Adelie Pilote.
Vb Viewof the Landing Rock in the Terre AdeliePilote(quadrant 80°).
Vc Two views of the Landing Rock (fromthe Northand from the West).
VI Photo 1 of the Landing Rock.
VII Photo 2 of the Landing Rock.
VIIIa Taking possession ofTerre Adelie (print 1)
VIIIb Taking possession ofTerre Adelieon January 21, 1840 (print 2)
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1
[1] See J.-F. Da Costa, 1958: 69 sq.
[2] Joinville and d’Urville
[3] "One major discovery had yet to happen, namely the magnetic pole, this point so crucial to the solution of the great problem of the earth’s magnetic laws " Dumont d’Urville, 1845: 126
[4] The recounting of the voyage (Voyage au Pôle Austral et dans l’Océanie, tome VIII), mentions January 19, 1840. We know that Dumont d’Urville had forgotten to add one day to the calendar when crossing the 180th meridian coming from the East. Therefore we should read: January 20, 1840.
[5] Named after Vincendon Dumoulin, a Navy marine surveyor who mapped out from a sailboat the newly discovered coast. “The small islet on which we landed is part of a group of some ten or twelve small islands with rounded tops and all of somewhat similar shapes”.
[6] On pages 154 – 156 of Voyage au Pôle sud…T VIII we find the description of these travels. We know that Dumont d’Urville only authored the first two volumes; subsequent volumes were completed after his death by Vincendon-Dumoulin using Dumont d’Urville’s notes. The story of the discovery itself is therefore attributable – within these limits – to the marine surveyor. Yet, notes 15 (p. 312-313), 16 (p. 314-316), 17 (p. 316-319), 19 (336-337) refer the description to pages 312-337 of the same volume.
[7] Quoted by Perroud, 1955: 14.
[8] Da Costa, 1958: 70
[9] Dubouzet, first officer on the Zélée (Cdt. Jacquinot Voyage au Pôle sud…, TVIII: 149, as quoted by Da Costa 1958: 70.
[10]“But we need some reminders; one of these fragments must come to remind each and everyone of us in our old days that we set foot on a new land; picks and hammerscan be heard form afar; though it is hard, the rock cannot resist our efforts, and soon many fragments are filling the bottom of our canoes”.Voyage au Pôle sud…, Note 17 p. 316 by M. Joseph-Antoine Duroch, Ensign aboard the Astrolabe. And Jacquinot, note 15 p. 312: “They were back on board at eleven o’clock, bringing along many rocksamples and a few penguins. Their search had yielded nothing else: not a shell, nor the merest sign of vegetation.(…) “
[11] Aubert de la Rüe et al, 1951: 995-997; Heurtebize, 1952: 2209-2211
[12] Perroud, 1955: 14
[13]66°29’ S 138°21' E of the Paris meridian.
[14] Perroud, 1955: 14.
[15] Heurtebize, 1952: 2210-2211. E.P.F.: Expéditions Polaires Françaises [French Polar Expeditions].
[16] Perroud, 1955.